The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous military action against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
